Gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A slot machine includes a main display, a spin switch and a processor. The main display is provided with variable displays for variably displaying, and the spin switch is provided so that a player can perform a start operation for causing the main display to start variably displaying. The processor determines whether the player performs an in-time start operation in which the player performs an operation with the spin switch within a time limit after a last game ends. The processor provides the player with an award if the in-time start operation is performed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-211741, filed on Jun. 21,2005; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with afunction of variably displaying a plurality of symbols.

2. Related Background of the Invention

Slot machines have been conventionally known as a gaming machine whichpays out media such as medals and coins used in a game according to thedetail of winning in the game.

A slot machine realizes a function of variably displaying a plurality ofsymbols by a plurality of mechanical reels each having a plurality ofpatterns on a outer surface or by image display which displays imagesshowing a plurality of reels (reels displayed by images being alsoreferred to as “pseudo reels”). When a player performs a predeterminedoperation, the slot machine causes the reels to start variablydisplaying symbols. According to the combination of symbols displayed ona predetermined activated pay line at the time when the reels arestopped, the player can recognize whether a game is won or not and thewinning combination.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-329297discloses a slot machine which includes a plurality of independent reelsconstituting a display area. The slot machine variably displays symbolsof the reels simultaneously when a game is started upon an operation bythe player, and stops the reels at a predetermined timing after thelapse of a predetermined time.

When a player starts a game, a gaming machine is occupied by the playeruntil the player stops gaming regardless of the number of games, wherebyother players cannot play games. It is desirable for arcades installedwith slot machines that a large number of games are played regardless ofwho plays games. This can be achieved by shortening the time betweengames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, since the operation for starting a game is an operation ofpushing down a spin switch by a player, conventional slot machines havebeen hard to increase the number of playing games as long as themachines are occupied by players who are slow to proceed with games.

For overcoming the problem mentioned above, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a gaming machine which can urge a player toshorten the interval between start operations, thereby increasing thenumber of games played in a unit time.

According to the present invention, a gaming machine comprises variabledisplay means, operating means, determining means and award providingmeans. The variable display means includes a plurality of variabledisplay portions for variably displaying symbols. The operating meanscauses the variable display means to start variably displaying thesymbols. The determining means determines whether a player performs anin-time start operation to cause the variable display means to startvariably displaying the symbols with the operating means before anelapsed time measured after ending a game exceeds a time limit. Theaward providing means provides the player with an award if thedetermining means determines that the player has performed the in-timestart operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a slotmachine which is the gaming machine in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the slot machine focused on an innerstructure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the inner structure ofthe image control circuit;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a main processfrom the start to the end of a game in the slot machine;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a starting entryprocess;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a base gameprocess;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a bonus gameprocess;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a starting entryprocess in a modified example;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of an awardproviding process in the modified example;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a startingentry process in the modified example;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a gaming valuedetection process in the modified example;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of an awardchanging control process in the modified example;

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of game processing images displayedon a main display;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of images displaying a timenotification image different from that of FIG. 13 on the main display;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a rotary drum slot machine inaccordance with a modified example;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the structure of reels in therotary drum slot machine; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a liquidcrystal display device in the rotary drum slot machine as seen from theback side of its cabinet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will beexplained in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings,portions identical or equivalent to each other will be referred to withnumerals identical to each other.

(Overall Structure of Slot Machine)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a slotmachine 1. The slot machine 1 is a gaming machine in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention, and is constructed such as to beable to execute a variable display game (also referred to as slot game)using variable display images of a plurality of symbols for variablydisplaying. The slot machine 1 has not only a base game mode forexecuting a base game which is started irrespective of condition afterstarting a game, but also a special game mode for executing a bonus gamewhich is started under a predetermined condition subsequent to the basegame. In the special game mode, a double down game which will beexplained later can be executed.

The slot machine 1 has a main display 3 equipped with a liquid crystaldisplay device on the front face of a cabinet 2. The slot machine 1 alsohas a sub display 4 similarly provided with a liquid display device onthe upper side of the main display 3.

The main display 3 is the variable display means in the presentinvention, whereas a variable display area 15 is arranged atsubstantially the center of the screen. The variable display area 15 hasfive variable display portions 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, 15E arranged in ahorizontal row. In the base game mode, the main display 3 variably showssymbols by displaying scroll display images as if a plurality of symbolsmove down (reel images visible as if mechanical reels rotate) on thevariable display sections 15A to 15E of the variable display area 15.The main display 3 also has a time notification portion 16 fordisplaying a time notification image, which will be explained later, onthe lower side of the variable display area 15, thereby constituting thetime notifying means in the present invention.

The sub display 4 displays images related to games such as payout tablesand explanations of games (e.g., explanations of game contents).

The slot machine 1 is provided with a substantially horizontal operationtable 11 on the lower side of the main display 3. The operation table 11is equipped with a coin insertion slot 6, a bill insertion slot 7, aspin switch 8, a 1-BET switch 9, and a maximum BET switch 10.

The coin insertion slot 6 is provided in order for a player to insertcoins for betting on games, and includes an inserted coin sensor 6 a(see FIG. 2) for outputting a signal indicative of the coin insertion.The bill insertion slot 7 is provided in order for the player to insertbills, and includes an inserted bill sensor 7 a (see FIG. 2) foroutputting a signal indicative of the bill insertion. The spin switch 8is the operating means in the present invention, and feeds a main CPU32, which will be explained later, with a start signal when a pushingoperation (start operation) for beginning a slot game by startingvariably displaying symbols on the variable display portions 15A to 15E.The 1-BET switch 9 is provided for performing a setting of betting onecoin by one operation. The maximum BET switch 10 is provided forperforming a setting for betting the maximum number of coins that can bebet on one game by one operation.

At the bottom portion of the cabinet 2, the slot machine 1 is providedwith a coin payout chute 13 and a coin tray 14 for collecting thepaid-out coins. Further, speakers 12L, 12R are disposed on the left andright sides of the coin payout chute 13, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the slot machine 1 focused on the internalconfiguration. The slot machine 1 comprises a plurality of constituentscentered at a microcomputer 31, which constitute a processor of the slotmachine 1 together with various circuits 36, 37, 59, 61, 63, 65, 71 and72 to be explained later.

The microcomputer 31 comprises a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 32,a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 34. Themain CPU 32 acts as various means characterizing the present inventionaccording to programs stored in the ROM 34, and inputs/outputs signalsfrom/to other constituting elements by way of an I/O port 39, therebycontrolling operations of the slot machine 1 as a whole. The RAM 33stores data and programs used when the main CPU 32 operates. Forexample, the RAM 33 temporarily holds a random number value sampled by asampling circuit 36, which will be explained later, after a game isstarted. The ROM 34 stores permanent data and programs executed by themain CPU 32.

The slot machine 1 also includes a random number generator 35, thesampling circuit 36, a clock pulse generating circuit 37, and a divider38. The random number generator 35 operates as instructed by the mainCPU 32, so as to generate random numbers within a fixed range. Asinstructed by the main CPU 32, the sampling circuit 36 arbitrarilysamples a random number from among the random numbers generated by therandom number generator 35, and feeds thus sampled random number to themain CPU 32. The clock pulse generating circuit 37 generates a referenceclock for actuating the main CPU 32, whereas the divider 38 feeds themain CPU 32 with a signal obtained when dividing the reference clock bya predetermined period.

The slot machine 1 further comprises a touch panel 3 a, a lamp drivingcircuit 59, a lamp 60, an LED driving circuit 61, an LED 62, a hopperdriving circuit 63, a hopper 64, a payout completion signal circuit 65,and a coin detecting unit 66. The slot machine 1 also comprises an imagecontrol circuit 71 and a sound control circuit 72.

The touch panel 3 a is provided such as to cover the display screen ofthe main display 3, detects a position where a finger of a playertouches, and feeds the main CPU 32 with a position signal correspondingto thus detected position. The lamp driving circuit 59 outputs to thelamp 60 a signal for lighting the lamp 60, and blinks the lamp 60 duringplaying a game. Special effects for games are executed by this blinking.The LED driving circuit 61 controls the blinking of the LED 62. The LED62 displays the number of credited coins, the number of acquired coins,and the like. The hopper driving circuit 63 drives the hopper 64 underthe control of the main CPU 32, whereas the hopper 64 performs anoperation for paying out coins, so as to pay out coins from the payoutchute to the coin tray 14. The coin detecting portion 66 counts thenumber of coins paid out by the hopper 64, and notifies the countednumber data to the payout completion signal circuit 65. The payoutcompletion signal circuit 65 inputs the coin number data from the coindetecting portion 66, and feeds the main CPU 32 with a signal notifyingthe completion of payout of coins when the coin number reaches a setnumber.

The image control circuit 71 controls respective image displays in themain display 3 and sub display 4, so as to cause the main display 3 andsub display 4 to show variable display images of a plurality of symbolsfor variably displaying and various images such as time notificationimages.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image control circuit 71 includes an imagecontrol CPU 71 a, a work RAM 71 b, a program ROM 71 c, an image ROM 71d, a video RAM 71 e, and a VDP (Video Display Processor) 71 f. Accordingto parameters set by the microcomputer 31, the image control CPU 71 adetermines images to be displayed on the main display 3 and sub display4 in conformity to an image control program (concerning displays in themain display 3 and sub display 4) stored in the program ROM 71 cbeforehand. The work RAM 71 b is constructed as temporary storage meansused when the image control CPU 71 a executes the image control program.

The program ROM 71 c stores the image control program, various selectiontables, etc. The image ROM 71 d stores dot data for forming images. Inthis embodiment, the dot data includes symbol image data showingrespective symbols used in the base game and the bonus game. The videoRAM 71 e is constructed as temporary storage means used when images areformed by the VDP 71 f. The VDP 71 f includes a control RAM 71 g. ThisVDP 71 f forms images in conformity to respective contents to bedisplayed on the main display 3 and sub display 4 determined by theimage control CPU 71 a, and outputs thus formed images to the maindisplay 3 and sub display 4.

The sound control circuit 72 feeds the speakers 12L, 12R with soundsignals for causing the speakers 12L, 12R to output the sounds. Thespeakers 12L, 12R output sounds for making the game more enjoyable.

(Details of Slot Machine Operations)

Details of operations of thus constructed slot machine 1 will now beexplained with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. As shownin FIG. 4, the slot machine 1 initially executes a base game processsubsequent to a starting entry process, and then executes a bonus gameprocess under a given condition.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of a main processfrom the start to the end of a game in the slot machine 1, whereas FIG.5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the starting entryprocess. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of thebase game process, whereas FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operationprocedure of the bonus game process. In FIGS. 4 to 7, steps areabbreviated as S.

In the slot machine 1, the main CPU 32 acts as game proceeding controlmeans, thereby controlling the proceeding with game. When the mainprocess is started as shown in FIG. 4, the slot machine 1 executes thestarting entry process at step 1, and then executes the base gameprocess at step 2 while keeping the game mode in the base game mode,whereby the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 3. At step 3, the main CPU 32acts as transition determining means, so as to determine whether or notto shift the game mode to a special game mode according to a transitioncondition for shifting the game mode to the special game mode. If thetransition condition is satisfied here, so that the transition ispermitted, the main CPU 32 acts as shifting means, thereby proceeding tostep 4 in order to shift the game mode to the special game mode, andthen to step 5. If the transition condition is not satisfied, the mainCPU 32 proceeds to step 5 without executing step 4. At step 5, the mainprocess ends when a coin payout process corresponding to a winningcombination is executed if a base game or bonus game is won (that is,the main CPU 32 instructs the hopper driving circuit 63 to pay out coinsaccording to payout number information indicating the number of coinsacquired by the player, so that the hopper 64 pays out coins and that asignal is inputted from the payout completion signal circuit 65 to themain CPU 32). The coin payout process may renew credit informationaccording to the payout number information. In this case, the payout ofcoins is executed by an operation of an undepicted checkout button afterending the game. In the following, details of the individual blocks willbe explained.

First, the slot machine 1 executes the starting entry process at step 1in conformity to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. Upon beginning thestaring entry process, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 11, so as toexecute display control regarding a game initial image, therebyinstructing the image control circuit 71 to show the game initial imageon the main display 3. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the main display3 shows the game initial image 18 including the variable display area15, time notification portion 16, and meter portion 17.

As mentioned above, the variable display area 15 has five variabledisplay portions 15A to 15E arranged in a horizontal row. The timenotification portion 16 displays a time notification image. The timenotification image is an image displaying the lapse of time aftercompleting the previous game and a time limit in such contents as to berecognizable by a player. Further, the time notification image isconstructed by a movable image 16 a and a guide image 16 b. The movableimage 16 a is an inverted triangular image which is seen such as to moverightward as time passes. The guide image 16 b is a horizontalrod-shaped image. The movable image 16 b having arrived at the right endof the guide image 16 b indicates that the elapsed time after ending thegame reaches the time limit, and that the time thereafter is outside ofthe time limit. The movable image 16 a positioned anywhere other thanthe right end indicates the inside of the time limit.

The meter portion 17 displays the number of coins acquired by theplayer, the number of coins stored as credit, and the number of coinsbet.

At step 12 subsequent to step 11, the slot machine 1 under the controlof the main CPU 32 executes time notification control, so as to instructthe image control circuit 71 to make the main display 3 notify theelapsed time and time limit. Then, the movable image 16 a begins to movefrom the left end of the guide image 16 b, thereby showing an imagewhich is recognizable as if the movable image 16 moves from left toright along the guide image 16 b as time passes. The time notificationimage has a function of urging the player to push down the spin switch 8before the movable image 16 a reaches the right end of the guide image16 b. Namely, the time notification image functions to urge the playerto perform an in-time start operation within the time limit.

After instructing the image control circuit 71, the main CPU 32 proceedsto step 13 so as to accept coins inserted from the player. Since theslot machine 1 is a gaming machine of coin insertion type, the playerinitially inserts coins to be bet on one game from the coin insertionslot 6, and operates the 1-BET switch 9 or maximum BET switch 10 whencredit is left.

When any of these operations (hereinafter referred to as “coin insertionoperation”) is performed, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 14 and waitsuntil a start signal is inputted by the start operation caused bypushing down the spin switch 8. When the start operation is performedand the start signal is inputted, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 15and acts as determining means in the present invention. The main CPU 32determines whether an in-time start operation is performed before theelapsed time, which is measured after ending the game (previous game),exceeds the time limit. That is, the main CPU 32 determines whether thestart signal is inputted before the movable image 16 a reaches the rightend of the guide image 16 b. If the in-time start operation isperformed, i.e., if the start operation is performed within the timelimit, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 16; otherwise, it terminates thestarting entry process without executing step 16 and the subsequent step17. At step 16, the main CPU 32 acts as award providing means, so as toexecute a process for providing the player with an advantageous award.

Here, examples of the award include an advantage of shifting to a bonusgame and an advantage of increasing the number of coins to be paid out.In the case of the shifting to the bonus game, an award providingprocess sets a predetermined item of data to a bonus flag indicative ofshifting to the bonus game. Otherwise, in the case of increasing thenumber of coins to be paid out, an award providing process adds a valuecorresponding to the number of increase to the payout numberinformation. The player may also be provided with a certain awardconcerning slot games, and awards may be provided in other modes as longas they are useful to the player. The following explanation assumes acase where the award providing process is executed by setting apredetermined item of data (“1” in this embodiment) to the bonus flag.

At step 17 subsequent thereto, the main CPU 32 acts as award providingnotification control means, so as to control the notification withregard to an award provision, thereby causing the main display 3 tonotify that an award is provided. For example, the main CPU 32 instructsthe image control circuit 71 to make the main display 3 show an imagewhich indicates a message stating “Lucky!! Get The Special Bonus!” Thisinforms the player that the award is provided.

When the starting entry process ends, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 2in FIG. 4, and executes the base game process in conformity to theflowchart shown in FIG. 6. When the base game process begins, the mainCPU 32 proceeds to step 21, thereby executing a base game lotteryprocess. In the base game lottery process, the main CPU 32 acts assymbol determining means, thereby executing a symbol determiningprocess. In the symbol determining process, the main CPU 32 determinesrespective symbols (hereinafter referred to as “stop symbols”) fixedlydisplayed in a stopped state at vertical centers of the variable displayportions 15A to 15E by stopping the variable display. Determining therespective stop symbols in the variable display portions 15A to 15Efixes the symbols arranged on the upper and lower sides of the stopsymbols, so that three symbols are displayed in a stopped state in eachof the variable display portions 15A to 15E. During the base gamelottery process in the slot machine 1, the main CPU 32 instructs theimage control circuit 71 to make the sub display 4 show images fordirecting the game.

In the base game lottery process, when the main CPU 32 detects the startoperation of the player by the start signal (i.e., when the game isstarted), the main CPU 32 instructs the random number generator 35 togenerate random numbers within a fixed range. Also, the main CPU 32instructs the sampling circuit 36 to arbitrarily sample a random numberfrom among the random numbers generated by the random number generator35. When the random number is sampled, the main CPU 32 refers to anundepicted symbol determining table (which is a table storing codenumbers of symbols in association with the random numbers) stored in theROM 34 while using the sampled random number as a search key, andacquires the code number of the corresponding symbol.

Next, while setting thus acquired code number as a search key, the mainCPU 32 refers to an undepicted stop table (table storing code numbers ofsymbols in association with their corresponding symbols), and retrievesrespective stop symbols displayed in a stopped state in the variabledisplay portions 15A to 15E in the variable display area 15.

When the respective stop symbols in the variable display portions 15A to15E are fixed, the main CPU 32 determines whether winning is attained ornot by referring to a winning determination table stored in the ROM 34.The winning determination table registers any of winning symbolcombinations and losing (non-winning) symbol combinations in associationwith combinations of code numbers (hereinafter referred to as “codenumber patterns”) in a manner in which winning or not is discernible.Since the code number patterns corresponding to stop symbols havealready been determined, the main CPU 32 refers to the winningdetermination table while setting a code number pattern corresponding toa combination of symbols arranged on the effective line as a search key,and determines whether winning is attained or not from the result of thereference.

Subsequently, the main CPU 32 refers to a combination table, andexecutes a winning combination determining process for determining awinning combination (which will also be simply referred to as“combination”) in order to decide a payout. The combination table isused for determining a mode of winning (winning combination), andregisters respective payouts corresponding to individual winningcombinations. When the winning combination determining process ends, thebase game lottery process ends.

When a scroll process begins at step 22 subsequent thereto, the scrollprocess of variably displaying a plurality of symbols in the variabledisplay portions 15A to 15E is executed on the main display 3. Next, atstep 23, the main CPU 32 executes a stop control process, so as to slowdown the scroll speed, thereby causing each of the variable displayportions 15A to 15E to show three symbols including the stop symbolcorresponding to the result of the base game lottery process at step 21.When each of the variable display portions 15A to 15E shows threesymbols including the stop symbol after terminating step 23, the basegame process ends.

When the base game process ends, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 3 inFIG. 4, so as to determine whether the transition condition for shiftingthe game mode to the special game mode is satisfied or not. If thetransition condition is satisfied, the main CPU 32 acts as shiftingmeans, so as to shift the game mode to the special game mode. At step 3,since the slot machine 1 provides an award by setting a predetermineditem of data (“1” in this embodiment) to the bonus flag, the main CPU 32determines that the transition is permitted if the predetermined item ofdata is set to the bonus flag. Thus, the slot machine 1 in thisembodiment shifts to the bonus game regardless of stop symbols. Ofcourse, whether the transition is permitted or not may be determined inaccordance with the fact that specific symbols on the variable displayportions 15A to 15E are decided to be the stop symbols for a transitioncondition in addition to the condition mentioned above, so that thetransition depends on the stop symbols, or whether the transition ispermitted or not may be determined by other conditions. When the gamemode shifts to the special game mode, the processing proceeds to step 4,where a bonus game process is executed.

(Bonus Game Process)

If the main CPU 32 determines that the game mode can shift from the basegame mode to the special game mode, so that the bonus game processstarts, a free game executable without operations by the player whilehaving the same details as with a base game is repeated by apredetermined number (which is 10 in this embodiment but may be more).

When the bonus game process starts, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 31as shown in FIG. 7, so as to execute a bonus game lottery process. Thebonus game lottery process executes the predetermined number of lotteryprocesses similar to the base game process at step 21, so as todetermine stop symbols in the variable display portions 15A to 15E andwhether the games are won or not by the predetermined number. In thisbonus game lottery process, an initial value (“1”) is set to a bonuscounter indicating the number of bonus games played.

Next, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 32, so as to execute a scrollprocess as with step 22. Subsequently, at step 33, a stop controlprocess similar to that of step 23 is executed, so as to cause thevariable display portions 15A to 15E to show stop symbols by the numbercorresponding to the bonus counter in the result of bonus lotteryprocess at step 31. At step 33, the bonus counter is renewed by adding“1” thereto.

Subsequently, at step 34, the main CPU 32 determines whether the bonuscounter exceeds the predetermined number or not, and terminates thebonus game process if the bonus counter exceeds the predeterminednumber; otherwise, the main CPU 32 returns to step 31 and repeats steps31 to 34.

As in the foregoing, the slot machine 1 sets “1” to the bonus flag whenthe start operation with the spin switch 8 is performed within the timelimit in conformity to the time notification image, and determines at alater step that the bonus game transition condition is satisfied,whereby the player is provided with an award of the bonus game when thespin switch 8 is pushed down within the time limit along the timenotification image. Therefore, the slot machine 1 can urge the player toperform a start operation within the time limit according to the elapsedtime and time limit notified to the player, so as to shorten theinterval between start operations, whereby the number of games played ina unit time can be increased.

(Modified Example)

In the award providing step at step 16 shown in FIG. 5, “1” is set tothe bonus flag once the in-time start operation conforming to the timenotification image is performed. In this modified example, “1” is set tothe bonus flag when a plurality of in-time start operations areperformed in series. In this case, it will be sufficient if a startingentry process is executed in conformity to the flowchart shown in FIG.8. This starting entry process differs from that shown in FIG. 5 in thatstep 160 is executed instead of steps 16, 17 and in that another step 18is executed.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating an award providing control processat step 160. When starting the award providing control process, the mainCPU 32 proceeds to step 171, so as to add “1” to a number counterindicating the number of in-time start operations. Subsequently, themain CPU 32 proceeds to step 172, so as to act as start operation numbercounting means, thereby determining whether the number counter reaches apredetermined number (e.g., “3”) or not. The main CPU 32 terminates theaward providing control process if the number counter does not reach thepredetermined number; otherwise, the main CPU 32 resets the numbercounter, and proceeds to step 16. Then, the main CPU 32 acts as theaward providing means, so as to execute the above-mentioned awardproviding process and a process for controlling a notification regardingaward provision as step 17 subsequent thereto, thereby terminating theaward providing control process.

If the start operation is not performed within the time limit inconformity to the time notification image at step 15 shown in FIG. 8,the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 18, so as to reset the number counter.Thus, the number is counted only when in-time start operations areperformed in series; otherwise, the value of the number counter iscleared.

In this way, the slot machine 1 in accordance with this modified exampleprovides an award when in-time start operations, each of which areperformed within the time limit in conformity to the time notificationimage, are performed in series, and thus can urge the player to furthershorten the interval between start operations, thereby speeding up thegaming. Hence, the number of games played in a unit time can beincreased.

In the starting entry process, this modified example changes at leastone of the permission of notifying the elapsed time and time limit, thecontent of the award, and a notification timing in accordance with theusage rate per unit time of the gaming value used for starting the game,e.g., the number of coins inserted per unit time. In this case, it willbe sufficient if the starting entry process is executed in conformity tothe flowchart shown in FIG. 10. This starting entry process differs fromthat shown in FIG. 5 in that step 120 is executed instead of step 12 andin that step 19 is executed between steps 11 and 120. There are alsodifferences in that step 20 is executed between steps 13 and 14 and inthat a variable award providing process of step 161 is executed insteadof steps 16 and 17.

When initiating the starting entry process, the main CPU 32 proceeds tostep 19 subsequent to step 11 mentioned above, so as to act as thechanging means in the present invention, thereby executing an awardchanging control process. Subsequently, the main CPU 32 executes a timenotification control process at step 120. Further, the main CPU 32executes step 13 as mentioned above, then proceeds to step 20, so as toact as the detecting means in the present invention, thereby executing agaming value detection process. Thereafter, the main CPU 32 executessteps 14 and 15 as mentioned above. Subsequently, the main CPU 32proceeds to step 161, so as to execute a variable award providingprocess, thereby ending the starting entry process.

When starting the gaming value detection process by proceeding to step20, the main CPU 32 advances to step 191 as shown in FIG. 11, so as toact as the detecting means in the present invention. Then, the main CPU32 adds to a gaming value counter the number of inserted coins or creditusage rate in coin inserting operations during a predetermined time(e.g., 10 minutes). Then, the main CPU 32 calculates the usage rate perunit time from the value of the gaming value counter. Subsequently, themain CPU 32 proceeds to step 192, so as to act as gaming valuedetermining means, thereby determining whether the usage rate is atleast a predetermined value (e.g., 100) or not. If the usage rate isless than the predetermined value, the main CPU 32 terminates the gamingvalue detection process. If the gaming value number counter is at leastthe predetermined value, the main CPU 32 proceeds to step 193, so as toset a predetermined item of data (e.g., “1”) to an award flag forchanging a content concerning the award, and then terminates the gamingvalue detection process.

When initiating the award changing control process by proceeding to step19 shown in FIG. 10, the main CPU 32 advances to step 181 as shown inFIG. 12, so as to act as the changing means in the present invention.Then, the main CPU 32 determines whether “1” is set to the award flag bythe gaming value detecting means. The main CPU 32 terminates the awardchanging control process if “1” is not set to the award flag, whereasthe main CPU 32 proceeds to step 182 if “1” is set to the award flag. Atstep 182, the main CPU 32 instructs the sampling circuit 36 toarbitrarily sample a random number among random numbers generated by therandom number generator 35. According to the arbitrary random number,the main CPU 32 sets predetermined items of data to award changing flagsA, B, and C. For example, “1” is set to the award changing flag A,whereas any of a plurality of values “1”, “2”, . . . are set to theaward changing flags B and C. After setting the above-mentioned data tothe award changing flags A to C, the main CPU 32 terminates the awardchanging control process.

At step 120 shown in FIG. 10, the main CPU 32 decides whether or not tonotify the elapsed time and time limit according to the award changingflag A. Namely, the main CPU 32 determines whether “1” is set to theaward changing flag A or not. The main CPU 32 terminates the timenotification control process if “1” is not set to the award changingflag A, and executes the above-mentioned time notification process if“1” is set to the award changing flag A.

Subsequently, at step 120, the main CPU 32 changes the notificationtiming according to the value of the award changing flag B. Namely, themain CPU 32 determines whether any value is set to the award changingflag B or not. If no value is set to the award changing flag B, the mainCPU 32 terminates the time notification control process. If any value isset to the award changing flag B, the main CPU 32 changes theabove-mentioned notification timing of the elapsed time and time limitaccording to the value of the award changing flag B. For example, themain CPU 32 immediately executes the above-mentioned time notificationprocess if “1” is set to the award changing flag B, and the main CPU 32executes the above-mentioned time notification process after 2 secondsif “2” is set to the award changing flag B. The main CPU 32 may executethe time notification process as with step 12 mentioned above if “1” isset to the award changing flag B. Also, the main CPU 32 may execute thetime notification process in which the time limit may become one half ofthat at step 12 if “2” is set to the award changing flag B.

At step 161, according to the value of the award changing flag C, themain CPU 32 changes the content of the award to be provided. Namely, themain CPU 32 determines whether any value is set to the award changingflag C or not. If no value is set to the award changing flag C, the mainCPU 32 terminates the award providing control process. If any value isset to the award changing flag C, the main CPU 32 changes the content ofthe award for the above-mentioned award providing process according tothe value of the award changing flag C. For example, according to thevalue of the award changing flag C, the main CPU 32 chooses one awardamong advantages such as the above-mentioned transition to the bonusgame and the increase in the number of coins to be paid out, andexecutes the above-mentioned award providing process.

Since at least one of (a) the permission of notifying the elapsed timeand time limit, (b) the content of the award, and (c) the notificationtiming is changed according to the usage rate per unit time of thegaming value used for starting the game, this modified example can urgethe player to play the game while taking account of the usage rate perunit time of the gaming value used for starting the game, whereby thenumber of games to be executed in a unit time can be increased.

The time notification image may be a smiley image 21 indicating asmiling face shown in FIG. 14. When notifying the elapsed time and timelimit with the smiley image 21, the smiley image 21 is lit or blinked(repeatedly displayed bright and dark) in the state where the elapsedtime is within the time limit, but is not displayed in the state wherethe elapsed time has reached the time limit. This time notificationimage functions to urge the player to push down the spin switch 8 whilethe smiley image 21 is lit or blinked. In this case, it will besufficient if the bonus flag is set when the player pushes down the spinswitch 8 while the smiley image 21 is lit or blinked.

Though the elapsed time and time limit are notified by the display ofthe time notification image on the main display 3 in the above-mentionedembodiment, they may be notified by flashing which periodicallybrightens the whole screen for a moment or by sound outputs from thespeakers 12L, 12R.

Though the slot machine 1 constructing the variable display means by themain display 3 showing images indicating reels is explained by way ofexample, the present invention may also be employed in a rotary drumslot machine having a plurality of mechanical reels each painted with aplurality of symbols and constituting the variable display means.

This rotary drum slot machine has a reel unit in which three mechanicalreels 103L, 103C, 103R shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are rotatably arrangedin a horizontal row, and a liquid crystal display device 141 disposed onthe front side of the reels 103L, 103C, 103R while covering them withinthe cabinet 2, for example. The reels 103L, 103C, 103R have respectivereel sheets each painted with a plurality of symbols on their side faceportions and are rotated by an undepicted stepping motor arranged on theinside.

The liquid crystal display device 141 comprises a translucent glasssheet 142 and display plate 143; a liquid crystal panel 144; alightguide plate 145; a reflecting film 146; fluorescent lamps 147 a,147 b, 148 a, 148 b which are white light sources; lamp holders 149 a to149 h; and a flexible substrate (not depicted) which is connected to aterminal portion of the liquid crystal panel 144 and constructed by atable carrier package (TCP) mounted with an IC for driving the liquidcrystal panel 144.

The liquid crystal panel 144 is configured normally white in order todisplay white (light is transmitted to the display surface side andvisible from the outside) in a state where no voltage is applied to theliquid crystal (the liquid crystal is not driven), whereby the reels103L, 103C, 103R are visible from the front side. The lightguide plate145 is provided in order to guide the light from the fluorescent lamps147 a, 147 b to the liquid crystal panel 144. The reflecting film 146 isprovided in order to reflect the light introduced to the lightguideplate 145 toward the front face of the lightguide plate 145, and has areflecting area 146A and nonreflecting areas 146BL, 146BC, 146BR as alight-transmitting portion which transmits incident light therethroughwithout reflecting it. The nonreflecting areas 146BL, 146BC, 146BR arearranged in front of three symbols arranged in a vertical row appearingwhen their corresponding reels 103L, 103C, 103R are stopped.

As the reels 103L, 103C, 103R rotate, a plurality of symbols painted ontheir side faces are variably displayed in thus constructed rotary drumslot machine. Accordingly, the reels 103L, 103C, 103R constitute thevariable display portions in the present invention, whereas the reelunit 103 constitutes the variable display means. The liquid crystaldisplay device 141 constitutes time notification means for notifying theelapsed time and time limit by displaying the time notification image.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the time notification portion 16 isarranged on the lower side of the variable display area 15 where thereels 103L, 103C, 103R of the liquid crystal display device 141 areseen.

In the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention are explained onthe basis of the slot machine 1. However, the present invention is notlimited to the foregoing embodiments. For example, the number ofvariable display portions is not limited to 3 and 5. Though eachvariable display portion displays three symbols arranged in a verticalrow, one symbol may be displayed.

Moreover, though some examples are explained as the award to be providedby the main CPU (award providing means), the present invention is notlimited to the foregoing examples.

For example, the above-mentioned symbol determining table, which storescode numbers of symbols in association with the random numbers, may bechanged into one for a so-called “special payout table” which enablesthe player to be easily awarded with better winning combinations. Thatis, the allocation of random numbers in the special payout table ismodified in favor of the player. Instead of the symbol determiningtable, the above-mentioned winning determination table may be changed infavor of the player.

As another example, a so-called “mystery bonus” may be employed as theaward to be provided by the award providing means. Specifically, whenthe mystery bonus is awarded, the base game will be shifted into thebonus game irrespective of the player's operation or symbols on the maindisplay. Entry into such mystery bonus may be determined by a lottery inthe slot machine itself or a controlling machine governing a pluralityof slot machines. In addition, entry into such mystery bonus may bedetermined by a special winning combination, which is hidden from theplayer, or a special player's operation such as a mode or timing ofpressing switches.

Though the embodiments of the present invention describe a slot machinewhich cannot stop each reel during variable displaying by way ofexample, the present invention is also employable in slot machines(pachislo machines) of a type which can stop each reel during variabledisplaying.

As described above, the present invention provides a gaming machinewhich can urge the player to shorten the interval between startoperations, so as to increase the number of games played in a unit time.

The gaming machine of the present invention comprises variable displaymeans provided with a plurality of variable display portions forvariably displaying symbols and operating means for causing the variabledisplay means to start variably displaying the symbols. The gamingmachine of the present invention further comprises determining means fordetermining whether an in-time start operation is performed with theoperating means before an elapsed time measured after ending a gameexceeds a time limit, and award providing means for providing a playerwith an award useful therefor when the determining means determines thatthe in-time start operation is performed.

This gaming machine provides a player with a useful award when anin-time start operation, which is performed before an elapsed timemeasured after ending a game exceeds a time limit, is executed.Therefore, the gaming machine can urge the player to perform a startoperation within the time limit, so as to shorten the interval betweenstart operations.

The gaming machine of the present invention may further comprise timenotifying means for notifying the elapsed time and time limit. Thisgaming machine notifies the elapsed time and time limit, and thus canurge the player to perform a start operation according to the elapsedtime and time limit notified thereto.

The award providing means may provide the award when the determiningmeans determines that the in-time start operations are performed inseries. In this structure, the award is provided when the in-time startoperations are performed in series, whereby the gaming machine can urgethe player to further shorten the interval between start operations andspeed up.

The gaming machine of the present invention may further comprisedetecting means for detecting a usage rate per unit time of a gamingvalue used for starting a variable display game by the variable displaymeans; and changing means for changing at least one of a permission ofnotifying the elapsed time and time limit, a content of the awardprovided by the award providing means, and a notification timing by thetime notifying means according to a result of detection by the detectingmeans.

According to the usage rate per unit time of a gaming value used forstarting a game, this gaming machine changes at least one of (a) thepermission of notifying the elapsed time and time limit, (b) the contentof the award provided, and (c) the notification timing, and thus canurge the player to play a game while taking account of the usage rateper unit time of the gaming value.

The gaming machine of the present invention may further comprise awardnotifying means for notifying that the award is provided by the awardproviding means when the in-time start operation is performed. Thisstructure allows the gaming machine to inform the player that the awardis given thereto.

1. A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of symbols for variablydisplaying; a switch causing the plurality of symbols to start variablydisplaying; and a processor for determining whether a player performs anin-time start operation to cause the plurality of symbols to startvariably displaying with the switch before an elapsed time measuredafter ending a game exceeds a time limit and for providing the playerwith an award if the player performs the in-time start operation.
 2. Thegaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor notifies theplayer of the elapsed time and the time limit.
 3. The gaming machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the processor provides the player with theaward if the player performs the in-time start operations in series. 4.The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor detects ausage rate per unit time of a gaming value for playing a game in orderto change at least one of permission of notifying the elapsed time andtime limit, a content of the award, and a notification timing of theelapsed time and time limit.
 5. The gaming machine according to claim 1,wherein the processor notifies the player that the award is provided ifthe in-time start operation is performed.
 6. A gaming machinecomprising: a plurality of symbols for variably displaying; a switchcausing the plurality of symbols to start variably displaying; and aprocessor for determining whether a player performs an in-time startoperation with the switch for starting a new game before an elapsed timemeasured after ending a previous game exceeds a time limit and forproviding the player with an award if the player performs the in-timestart operation, wherein the processor detects a usage rate per unittime of a gaming value for playing a game in order to change at leastone of permission of notifying the elapsed time and time limit, acontent of the award, and a notification timing of the elapsed time andtime limit.
 7. A gaming machine comprising: a plurality of symbols forvariably displaying; a switch causing the plurality of symbols to startvariably displaying; a processor for determining whether a playerperforms an in-time start operation to cause the plurality of symbols tostart variably displaying with the switch before an elapsed timemeasured after ending a game exceeds a time limit and for providing theplayer with an award if the player performs the in-time start operation;and a display informing the player that the award is provided by theprocessor if the player performs the in-time start operation.